- Worldwide distribution. In Australia, but NOT recorded in Pacific island countries.
- Sunken yellow, irregular streaks on leaves and fruit - similar to sunburn, hence the name. Streaks on young stems better indicator of disease. Also, regular cracking on bark of older branches.
- Some trees symptomless and produce 100% infected seed.
- Damage: large fruit reduction whether trees show symptoms or not.
- Spread: (i) natural root-to-root grafts in field; (ii) budwood from infected trees onto healthy root stocks; (iii) pruning tools; (iv) healthy scions grafted onto infected (symptomless) rootstocks.
- Cultural control: ASBVd present (i) use root stocks and scions from registered sources; (ii) monitor for ASBVd symptoms in field; (iii) if seen, remove tree and test remainder; (iv) disinfect tools using 1.5% sodium hypochlorite (in nursery and field); (v) note, pruning height of mature trees may activate ASBVd.
- Chemical control: Not appropriate.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Avocado sunblotch (368)
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Summary
Common Name
Avocado sunblotch
Scientific Name
Avocado sunblotch viroid. The abbreviation is ASBVd.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2018) Avocado sunblotch viroid (avocado sun blotch). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/8083); and Avocado sunblotch (2016) University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r8101011.html); and from Saucedo-Carabez JR et al. (2014) Effect of Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) on avocado yield in Michoacan, Mexico. European Journal of Plant Pathology 138(4):799-805. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10658-013-0354-9). Photos 1-3 Diseases of fruit crops in Australia (2009). Editors, Tony Cooke, et al. CSIRO Publishing.
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
